Summary : Alaska tops many a wildlife photographer's bucket list. From glacier-clad peaks to giant bears, capture incredible images on the Ultimate Alaska Wildlife Photo Safari. Unlike standard big-ship cruises and bus tours, you'll go deep into the remote parts of Alaska far from the heavily touristed areas that dominate most itineraries. Position yourself—and your camera—at the rail of a private yacht in front of calving glaciers, before a panorama of Denali from a backcountry wilderness lodge, and at river’s edge to capture a salmon leaping from the water into the gaping jaws of a brown bear. This photo safari reveals Alaska “less discovered”—bigger, wilder and more amazing than you ever imagined.

Travel south to Denali National Park, larger than the state of Massachusetts and one of the world’s great wilderness preserves. The park's namesake, also called Mt. McKinley, is the highest peak in North America, towering over the tundra and taiga below that provides habitat for wolves, grizzlies, moose and caribou. From your remote base 90 miles inside the park, enjoy the time and space to encounter authentic wilderness. Hiking, nature walks, biking, fishing and optional flightseeing are available. The climate and environment of Alaska's interior at this latitude is harsh much of the year, and it takes a vast amount of habitat to sustain animals—wildlife encounters tend to be fleeting, but always thrilling!

Depart Denali by train on a journey through Alaska’s rugged interior, over Broad Pass and along the Susitna River to Wasilla. From here, ride south to Alyeska Resort, Alaska’s premier ski area, where a host of exciting summer activities are also offered. Set in a lush glacial valley in the Chugach Range, Alyeska offers nature and luxury in tandem. Explore the northernmost temperate rain forest in North America which surrounds your lodge, or board the tram to the summit, where you may choose to dine at Seven Glaciers, a 5-star restaurant with vistas of the ice-bound peaks and Turnagain Arm far below. On Day 5, explore the scenic splendor around iceberg-choked Spencer Lake, then take a gentle float trip down the Placer River before returning to Girdwood for the evening.

This morning, travel to Seward on the Kenai Peninsula where you'll board a boat to Fox Island, a private island on the edge of Kenai Fjords National Park. Your location reveals the pristine side of Alaska most visitors miss.The region is famed for sea kayaking, and an easy paddling excursion this afternoon may unveil some of the area’s prolific marine life.

Iconic images of Alaska are on display today as you board a private charter boat for a cruise through a realm where the ice age still lingers. Your small yacht allows you to approach wildlife at intimate range, and Kenai Fjords National Park provides unparalleled opportunities for viewing humpback and orca whales, porpoises, sea otters and a large colony of puffins. Here, glaciers pour into the sea, and you may observe icebergs calving with a crash. Following your all-day outing, the boat returns you to Fox Island for a final night.

After a final morning enjoying the wild environs of Fox Island, transfer back to Seward. This afternoon, tour the Alaska SeaLife Center on the shores of Resurrection Bay. Visitors to Alaska’s only public aquarium and ocean wildlife rescue center find a "window on the sea," enjoying close encounters with puffins, octopus, sea lions and other creatures while peering over the shoulders of marine biologists studying Alaska’s rich and diverse sea life. Spend the night in Seward, surrounded by some of Alaska's most majestic peaks.

The mountain ranges of the Kenai Peninsula rise one after another on your return drive to Anchorage, as you traverse Moose Pass and cross some of Alaska's richest salmon rivers. Time permitting, stop at Exit Glacier for a close-up look at this active river of ice. The only portion of Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by road, it is a place where visitors can witness up close how glaciers re-shape a landscape and see plant life reclaiming the barren rock exposed by a glacier's retreat. Overnight in Anchorage.

Katmai National Park is home to the world’s largest population of brown bears. Fly by small plane this morning to King Salmon, then by floatplane to world-renowned Brooks Lodge, one of the best places to view these coastal grizzlies in their natural habitat. From the safety of platforms built over Brooks Falls, observe this classic spectacle up close, as the bears fish vigorously for salmon swimming upstream to spawn.

Getting There & Getting Home:Arrive in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Day 1 of the program for a 7:00 p.m. dinner orientation. You are free to depart Anchorage anytime on the final day.

Physical Requirements:The activities on the Alaska adventure are diverse. Although the longest walk required is two miles (round trip to the falls in Katmai), longer walks and hikes are available for those who choose them. It's stressed that travelers are not required to participate in every activity.

Included:Internal flights and train; accommodations; all meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 14 (except dinner on Days 6 & 10); bottled water; services of Photo Expedition Leader, local guides and lodge staff; some gratuities; airport transfers on Day 1 and final day; kayaking at Fox Island; permits and entrance fees; all taxes.

Not Included:Travel to and from start and end point of trip; dinner on Days 6 & 10; alcoholic beverages; some gratuities; passport and visa fees; optional activities; items of a personal nature (phone calls, souvenirs, etc.); airline baggage fees; airport and departure taxes; optional travel insurance.

Rates subject to change until final deposit. Rates may increase in 2014.

Joyce G.

Weetangera, Australia Jul 2008

Hidden Alaska

Land Based Adventures
Small Group

I am so glad that ExpeditionTrips showed me more than cruises. The whole experience was terrific. Two wins for them. You sent me to Polar Quest 4 years ago and the Arctic was wonderful with them. The trip was terrific and was exactly what I wanted.

Kathy and Jim S.

Burr Ridge, IL Jun 2007

Hidden Alaska

Land Based Adventures
Small Group

The information we received from ExpeditionTrips was extremely helpful. We always felt that our needs were taken care of personally, even though we were part of a group of 14. Our guide, Eric Rock, was fabulous. He was a whirlwind of activity working to make everyone's experience special. He was so willing to share his knowledge and love for Alaska.

His enthusiasm never wavered. The group we were with got along great, which also helped make the trip more enjoyable.

We always enjoy visiting Alaska, so we were already anticipating having a good time. In addition to seeing several new places, we got to experience things we had done before (the train from Denali, Anchorage, Alyeska Resort) in a new light. There was no aspect of the trip that disappointed. It was tiring, in a way, to have to pack up and leave so soon after arriving in Talkeetna and Fox Island, but that was just part of the trip and we knew that would be the situation.

This trip offered both a stay at Kantishna Roadhouse in Denali and a stay at Brooks Falls, both places we had wanted to visit but had not previously. The close-encounters with bears at Brooks were also a highlight.

Janet C.

Fitchburg, WI

In Search of the Northern Lights

Land Based Adventures
Small Group

Joy, as before, is great to work with. She got answers to all of my questions in a timely manner. Since I have also taken Natural Habitat's polar bear watching trip to Churchill and have always wanted to see a good display of northern lights, this trip was just what I wanted to complete my Arctic winter experience. The whole trip was memorable.

The group of people on the tour was wonderful. We quickly became one large family and everyone was ready to have a good time. Our guide could not have been better. He was so well prepared in every way....about all aspects of the Arctic and photography.

One does not go to Churchill to stay at a four star hotel. Ours was clean, roomy and warm enough. One couldn't ask for more. All of the people involved on our trip were knowledgeable and most helpful. Having been there before, I was still impressed with the quality of this trip.

There were no surprises. I do somewhat question the value of the train ride to Churchill, but it did give us a chance to get acquainted in a relaxed setting, and our guide's talks about the area were informative.

Karen S.

Silver Spring, MD

In Search of the Northern Lights

Land Based Adventures
Small Group

ExpeditionTrips was wonderful and I will book future trips with you. My Program Manager, who helped me decide on the trip, was outstanding. I was concerned about my mother, who is 78 with limited mobility (she uses a walker). She really wanted to come along, but I needed to make sure she would be able to participate and not feel left out.

You might want to emphasize that this is a good trip for someone who can no longer run marathons. My sister and I were able to shove our poor mother up the rickety ladder into the observation dome and help her get down. Of course it helps that she is a trooper, but still... Eric and the others on the tour were very kind and helpful to her and another older woman who had some mobility impairments.

Everyone we encountered was wonderful. I enjoyed the small group and the way we bonded quickly into a team. Eric was a great guide, and the folks in Churchill couldn't have been nicer. Service on the train was excellent as well.

I had seen the lights in Idaho many years ago and thought they were fascinating. I was in Alaska last summer and decided to head back north in the winter and see them.

The trip was just fabulous. I still can't decide about the train trip however. It was fun hanging out with the gang, but I think I might have preferred to fly to Churchill and spend more time there. The scenery from the train was nice but wasn't all that exciting, but then I've been to Russia in the winter, I was born in Iowa, and I've spent a lot of time in Minnesota, so maybe there was nothing new for me to see.

Uriel A.

Kfar-Saba, Israel

Classic Polar Bear Expedition

Land Based Adventures
Small Group

This is the third time I have used ExpeditionTrips, and I will definitely continue using you based on our recent experience. Previously I have been to Antarctica and Ecuador with your company and I had all the reason to believe that this trip would be as successful as the previous ones. I was right...

The guides we had (Jared and Scott) were the best one can imagine. They were courteous, knowledgeable, very well organized and caring. There was almost no question they didn't have a good answer to. They even successfully squeezed in a 'Bear Lift' and an 'Aurora Borealis' sighting into our timetable that was quite full already.

As for organization, everything went according to the timetable. No one got lost, all luggage arrived everywhere safely, there was plenty of food and drink all of the time; I really can't remember any occasion to complain about.

The trip to Churchill was awesome and using the services of Natural Habitat is a fantastic decision. Natural Habitat really knows their job. Everything from the choice of hotels through the excellent guides we had and the organization were nothing less than perfect. I definitely feel that I got much more than I paid for (and I paid quite a nice sum...). The trip was better than what I had expected. It would have been nice to have had some more time in the Tundra. We spent two whole days out and the animals did not come when asked to, so some sights could have been missed....

But really, the trip is awesome and Natural Habitat is a GREAT company with excellent guides and outstanding organization capabilities.

Donna F

Seatac, WA

Ultimate Churchill

Land Based Adventures
Small Group

You all get a TEN! No complaints - all kudos. You get us there and you get us back home! Can't say enough good things about our driver, the Polar Rover drivers, helicopter pilots, or the dog sledders.

Connie V.

Seatac, WA

Ultimate Churchill

Land Based Adventures
Small Group

Since last year, we had seen the penguins, I really wanted to see polar bears and talked both Lynda and Donna into accompanying me. The most memorable part was probably the group we were with. Don't think there is any room for improvement as our days were very full and no room for much else.
Our guide was outstanding, providing whatever we asked for and more. All the staff were great, and went above and beyond the call to help us and get us where we needed to be. They got us all up (those of us with the Disturb signs on our doors) at midnight to try to see the Aurora.
I don't know how you could have done much better! I always recommend you to people who are thinking about traveling!

Final Payment: Due 90 days prior to departure (120 days for some Expedition voyages). This will automatically be charged to your credit card unless other arrangements are made with us. Includes the cost of full coverage travel insurance unless previously declined. ALL TRAVEL INSURANCE IS NON-REFUNDABLE.

Payment Methods:Credit cards are accepted for both deposit and final payments (VISA, MC, Discover).

Payment policies for expeditions vary according to the departure and trip chosen. Please contact ExpeditionTrips for details.

Cancellation Policy

All requests for cancellation must be received in writing. Cancellation penalties are based on the number of days prior to departure that the cancellation was received and are subject to change without notice. We strongly suggest you obtain trip cancellation insurance. Failure to secure a valid passport, visa, or air arrangements does not waive this policy.

Penalties*:90 days or more: $100 cancellation fee and possible forfeit of deposit*89-45 days: 50% of program cost including all extensions*44 days or less: 100% of the entire program cost including all extensions*